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Hipkins rules out NZ First after NZ First already ruled out Labour

August 11, 2026

Peters says he ruled Labour out four years ago, again last year and repeatedly since.

Summarised by Centrist

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has announced that his caucus has unanimously ruled out working with NZ 

First after the election, saying the party’s recent conduct makes a governing arrangement impossible.

“There was not a single person in the Labour team who thought that we should be open to working with 

NZ First,” Hipkins said.

He argued that Winston Peters and Shane Jones had made their positions “untenable”, and said he had heard from migrant communities facing “more and more overt racism” that was being “emboldened by NZ First”.

NZ First had already ruled Labour out. Peters’ response made that point with characteristic bluntness: “The only thing THICKER than Chris Hipkins ruling me out TWELVE MONTHS AFTER I RULED HIM OUT” was media 

coverage treating it as new.

Peters also said NZ First had ruled Labour out four years ago, again 12 months ago and repeatedly since. 

Read more at 1News and  NZ First

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